This week past 16 years, February 1997 – Nov 15th 2013.

I have worked on this sketchbook, on and off. It was started out as a journal for my lizard. In 1997 I bought a tiny lizard from a street peddler and named it “Frog”. I continued working on the book long after I let the lizard go but ‘Frog’ continued to be a source of inspiration. I would use this book whenever the ‘Frog’  inspiration hit.

This was never my main sketchbook, I picked it up and worked on it from time to time. 84 pages, divided by 16 years gives you… 5.25 pages each year. I hope you like it. An archive of the book is also here.

The cover: Franky gave me that Beastie Boys sticker in 1995. The lobster label ‘MAINE’ came from a trade show I went to while working for a company called ‘Eton’. Notice the “BINDING GUARANTEED FOR 10 YEARS, PATENT #4106,148”. The book was published in 1977, so when I got hold of it my 10 years was up :).

This is where I started keeping a record and writing about “Frog” the lizard.

I bought another lizard, thinking “Frog” needed a pal, mistake, “Frog” didn’t like the idea.

Apple bits are not a favorite, and “Elroy” (the new lizard) looks sick. ‘Frog’ has taken a shine to my human roommate, I think he is in love.

Frog and Elroy, Oh how I wanted to like those animals, but lizards are not cuddly, and can be nasty buttholes.

Frog doesn’t like Elroy at all, it might be cause Elroy looks good in stripes.

Elroy has escaped, I hope him the best.

I started thinking how Elroy’s life on the run would be. Attempts at jokes while looking for Elroy.

Sheriff Esther, If she didn’t eat Elroy… maybe she was going to find him. Maybe she did.

Elroy at the Bar, he has found his people, I wish him the best.

Elroy is still missing maybe he is having a good time.

Elroy is missing while I chop greens for frog… where’s Elroy?

Maybe Elroy was kidnapped by flies?

Frog is a 32″ monster and he is starting to make me crazy. Roommate finds a very large lizard swimming in her tub “Not cool man, Not cool!”.

Other lizard found in the yard. long story short, Sheriff Esther did eat it.

Frog The Lizard has been set free. That lizards whipping tail, shedding nails and spitting hisses will not be missed.

Eton, a trade show, I brought this book with me on a whim. It has spent years sitting on a shelf at this point.

From 1997 to 2002, from Florida to Atlanta to Chicago. I’m still able to pick up this book and work, all I have to say is “Wow”.

More Chicago, a long drive, and some great art.

It’s a lot of blah, blah, blah, two pages stuck together, ripped and written on. Page 40 and 41.

Just a strange yellow rabbit thing, this might have been in Chicago.

This book goes to Mexico. Road trip with Amanda to texas, I think we went to to see the Old 97’s

Working with Blue acrylic, pen and a white marker.

Full color paint pens and the narrative about Elroy continues.

Running with the Lizards (rock music in the background).

I think at this point I have been prepping pages ahead of time, What a innovation? Before this I would white out a page then work on it.

The prepping pays off these next couple of pages look good, but I find out that gloss medium acrylic will still seal shut. It encased a few really cool drawings.

 Jazz band, this is the bleed through on a page spread that was encased, I was able to finish it on the reverse.

These pages squished together, I ripped them apart and made this.

Fun with lizard flaps and dresses.

Now for some red, black and white. This was a thing for a while.

I rode the train to work (downtown Atl). I would try to work on a spread a little each day during the commute.

Most days I didn’t fall asleep.

Nice buildings, The page texture is rough I tried using rollers to put down a white wash. I lost my pen and couldn’t get back into this one.

This one was fun, lots of bits and pieces going on.

Coffee cup raft floating in a sea of pink. I’m preparing the pages with red now.

July 2013, is this the future. What am I doing here.

I have a small tube of acrylic white and red, a small brush, water bottle (for painting) and an ink fountain brush in my bag.

Red white and black, the new ink brush is making this fun. Pages 76 and 77. I made some stencils.

Fun with Ink pen, Making a neat lizard! Pages 78 and 79. Something to be said about keeping it simple.

More red, black and white, Count the Lizards on my head.

1 small tube of Cadmium Red acrylic.
1 small tube of Titanium White.
1 tiny bottle of water.
1 brush (cut to fit just inside the bottle).
1 black fountain ink pen.

And this is where we stop for now. Page 86 and 87, 41 more pages to go. Thank you for looking and sharing.